Proverbs 13.1
“A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”
A scoffer is someone who resists correction. The act of scoffing or “mocking” is a way of attacking those who offer wise and helpful advice. The scoffer refuses to admit wrongdoing and cannot tolerate a rebuke that points out mistakes. As a result, the scoffer cannot improve behavior.
Also, scoffing is often an act of insecurity. Scoffers criticize and mock those who are actually doing the work and solving problems, though the scoffer himself is afraid of doing the work.
At Focus 3, we teach a simple discipline: No BCD. Don’t blame, complain, or defend. In other words, no scoffing. We have been teaching no BCD for many years now, and it has gained a large following. People and organizations have rallied to the call. It is has become an anthem for teams and a daily motto for thousands of people around the world. It seems to gain momentum every day.
The bottom line is that BCD doesn’t work. It is lazy, and it takes virtually no effort or skill. Worse, it is cowardly. BCD does not achieve goals, it doesn’t solve problems, and it doesn’t improve relationships.
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Blaming indicates you are irresponsible and untrustworthy.
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Complaining makes you inefficient and unenjoyable.
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Defensiveness reveals your ego and your weakness.
As Proverbs 13.1 says, the wise person doesn’t scoff. He doesn’t engage in BCD. Instead, he seeks to solve problems. He listens to feedback and instruction. He wants constructive criticism. He wants to be coached. He wants to get better. He listens and does the work.
The “no BCD” rule does not mean ignoring problems; it means solving them. Wise people understand there will always be problems in a fallen world, and they invest their time and energy in finding solutions.
They trust God and do the work.
